The Moth, Me, Molly Ringwald, and Quail Eggs

I sat next to the endearing Molly Ringwald during dinner last night, watching her eat delicate quail eggs, and listening to a table full of people who fascinated me with their love of stories, of life, of the joy of connection.

I was with them because I'm going to be part of the cast of The Moth On The Road, with their show stop here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show is tonight and I am walking on air.

What is The Moth?

“It is brilliant and quietly addictive” – The London Guardian

“New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket” – The Wall Street Journal

The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It is a celebration of both the raconteur, who breathes fire into true tales of ordinary life, and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it. At the center of each performance is, of course, the story – and The Moth’s directors work with each storyteller to find, shape and present it.

Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.

Moth shows are renowned for the great range of human experience they showcase. Each show starts with a theme, and the storytellers explore it, often in unexpected ways. Since each story is true and every voice authentic, the shows dance between documentary and theater, creating a unique, intimate, and often enlightening experience for the audience.

Moth stories dissolve socio-economic barriers, expose vulnerabilities, and quietly suggest ways to overcome challenges and see with new eyes.
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This is straight from The Moth website.

I can tell you that, yes, The Moth is brilliant and addictive. I've spent hours watching the story tellers, people like you and me, on their youtube channel, mothstories. I've spent hours listening to the stories called in by regular people like us, to The Moth's pitch line.

This past November, at 1:00 a.m., I decided to call in my story, a 60 second pitch, to their site. In January of this year, The Moth emailed me asking for more background on my original pitch. In February,  I said yes when they asked me if I'd like to join their cast when they bring their show to Milwaukee.

Tonight, at The Pabst Theatre, The Moth takes it show on the road, leaving NYC to bring more stories to more people. They will be hosting a two hour show of stories, the kind that you get lost in. Like when you were a kid ... riveting stories that leave you feeling like you've known the person in front of you for a lifetime.

That is the art of The Moth ... helping us see that a life is never just a life.

Tonight's theme is Past Tense, Future Perfect: Stories about Generations. Molly Ringwald is headlining. Amazing story tellers will be there with me, like Ophira Eisenberg, Anthony Giglio, Ed Gavagan, and Charles Pugh.

I am the only local.

Yes, I can't believe this is my life, and while sitting at dinner last night with these incredibly generous, supportive people, I kept thinking: I want everyone I know to pitch their story to The Moth. I want them to listen to The Moth, to watch the stories on The Moth. To find out about the people they live with on this planet.

We all need each other, and by hearing our stories ... we get to know one another a little bit better.


" The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes to audiences across the USA. Now is your chance."

Take your chance. Tell them your story. Find yourself eating quail eggs with Molly Ringwald, learning about a boy following his passion of food through Anthony Giglio, hearing about the importance of a grandmother in the life of a young boy, as only Charles Pugh can tell it.

Do it.

*The Moth's Pitch Line: click the link*

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**huge hugs of gratitude and love to The Moth's producers, who have shown me nurturing and encouragement all the way: Maggie Cino, Sarah Jenness, Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Kirsty Bennett. A special thank you to Joan Firestone, for her love of the human spirit.

To The Moth:  Thank you,  with gratitude deeper than I'd ever be able to express. Thank you.

**Tickets available through The Pabst Theatre box office.